Summa'time

The Crumptons have been busy bees lately. I (Melanie) am officially out of school and settling into summer life. While the livin' might be easy, it's still busy. We finally bit the bullet after four years of discussing 'doing the floors'and purchased flooring: bamboo hardwood. Roman dons his carpenter's belt every evening to measure, saw, glue, and clamp.

Getting started...

Corinne continues to delight us as she becomes more aware of life around her. She has been sitting on her own as well as getting on all fours and rocking back and forth.

This progresses to (what I call) the wheelbarrow. Not able to figure out how to turn all of this into a forward motion, she often voices her frustration. So, she scoots backwards getting further and further from her destination.

"Whaddya mean, I can't play here?"
"Rocker, Called it! Now how do I make this thing move?"

My goal this summer is to turn 'No-Nap-Corinne' into a napper.

"I have to stay in here how long?!"

Daddy's 'weak' with Corinne

As mentioned previously, I (Roman) took this week off to watch Corinne. This is why there have been three new posts this week-Yeah! SO I thought I'd share a couple of my thoughts with you. Oh yeah pics and video too!

First, with Melanie being off for the summer my intentions this week were to set an example that many things can get done while caring for the little one. Things like laundry, yard work, dinners, house cleaning, etc. I did a pretty good job too, but boy did I work my butt off. There's no way I could keep up that pace for long. I also put my culinary skills to the test by making some exciting meals including:

1. Black bean and salmon cakes (We ate these two nights over salad-awesome!)
2. Pumpkin and black eyed pea fritters
3. Potato and green bean pesto penne
4. Pineapple coconut crisp
5. Vegetarian lasagna (that I froze to eat this weekend)
6. Taboule

Alright enough of patting myself on the back, Corinne was a complete joy this week, I cannot wait to have another week off with her.

As Chloe does...

...so does Corinne

With Independence Day around the corner I wanted to share this video so that everyone will know our future plans on pushing Corinne toward self-reliance

Kissin'

This is the cutest "trick" Corinne can do. She is without a doubt apeing Melanie just before her bath. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!

So far this week, Corinne has been to the grocery, Bookstore Cafe, and Brockington and Assoc. office. The latter is the cultural resources company I worked for before becoming a fish head.

Anyhoo, Mel and I were going through all the pics from the time Pappy and gj were in town. Although they are not all of Corinne, they are of family. So I thought I'd give everyone a taste.

-Enjoy

Let me get this straight...

Strawberries, brown sugar, and cheese???

Interesting, VERY interesting

Owen- helpin' out

In a few years it'll probably be a tire swing and a scared little girl

Which one fell?

Naptime!

See ya soon!

Never too late

Alright, Alright, again we're sorry for the delay in posts, but we've been inundated with house guests for nearly two months. First were the Crumptons (see previous post), then Pappy and gj helped with watching the little one while Melanie finishes school (Thanks Pappy and gj!!!). I will be taking this week (June 4-8) off to watch the little squirt-this is why you're getting updated now.

Anyhoo,

Corinne is doing soooooo well. Pappy and gj shared the past five weeks with Corinne in a house on the beach. In this time, Betty Ann and Chris DiSilvestro (Mel's Aunt and Uncle) came into Charleston for the arrival of the Tall Ships, and The Rutledge Farm visited to get a look at the girl. As some of you may know, when The Rutledge Farm visited the beach house, Gus, one of the two year old twins lost his footing on the steps and fell about 5 feet onto concrete. After spending about two days in the pediatric intensive care unit at MUSC Gus was released to two VERY weathered parents. He is doing fine now, but a goose egg on the side of his head makes his ball caps fit awfully funny.

I thought I'd update everyone on Corinne's progression in the past month.

• She is almost sitting up on her own


• She has rolled from belly to back (only once has been recorded)


• She's cackling


• Everything now goes straight to the mouth (e.g. toys, fingers, dogs tails, teething rings)


• We've removed one book from under the jumper, and she'll be able to go bookless soon


• She LOVES walks around the back yard and touching/watching the leaves

The clan about to embark on La Hacienda's comida buena

Betty Ann and Corinne escaping the heat at the Tall Ships

Alright Pappy, what we need to do is move all these rocks from here to the other side of the house. Let me get this straight, you DO know how to operate this heavy equipment, don't you?

A whole lot better than CHICKEN fingers

SIT, SIT, good girls!